Portable platform or skid



A. A. BUREAU ET AL PORTABLE PLATFORM OR SKID Oct. 4, 1932.

Filed Jan. l. 1930 Patented'oa. 4, 1932 Tramsl UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE l, A. BUREAU, 0F CHICAGQ AND EARL P. BURK, OF OAK PARK, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNORS T0 WESTERN ELECTRIC COMPANY, INCORPORATED, OF NEW YORK,

N. Y., A. ooaronnrroN or NEW Yom:

romania PLATFORM on. sm I application mea January 1.1930. seal nu. 417,842.

invention relates to a portable platform or skid, and more particularly to a ortable platform or skid .to be conveyed y a. lift truck.

An object of this invention is to provide a portable platform which is rigidly and securely constructed and which is reinforced to withstand extraordinarily heavy loads and exceptionally hard usage.

In accordance with this object, one embodiment of theinvention conslsts of an elev ated platform which has its floor embraced along 1ts u per lateral and lower end edges by`longitu 'nal and transverse angle members, respectively, which are welded together at their ends to provide a rigid unitary frame. The ends of the longitudinal angle members embracing the upper lateral edges of the floor have their downwardly depending iiancges curved in the form of arcs to provideroun ed corners for the platform which mesh with correspondingly rabbeted end portions of the transverse end angle members to afford' iiush connections therewith. Longitudinal runners with their corners severed for the purose of safety secure the floor to said unitary graine and have legs attached therebeneath. Sockets are provided in the legs cooperatlng with apertures through the oor and framework to receive stakes for retaining articles on the platform. l

A clear understanding of this one specific embodiment of the invention will be lad from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawin whereln Fig. 1 is a plan view of the plat orm;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view thereof;

Fig. 3 is an end view of the same; t

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary enlarged detailed view of the corner construction of the platform; v

Fig. 5 is an end view of the corner construction shown in Fig. 4, and

Fig. 6 is a sectional view of this corner construction.

Referring now to the drawing wherein likemem ers 12-12 with their flanges disposed vertically or upwardly and inwardly or horizontally, respectively, embrace the lower end edges or ends of the platform floor. The ends of the'longitudinal lateral angle members' 11-11 project a short Adistance beyond the` end transverse planks 10 and have their horizontal or inwardly extending flanges or webs severed at their outer end corners in the form of aros or quarter circles and the vertical flanges or webs of these individual longitudinal angle members correspondingly have their A,ends bent or curved inwardly to conform to these arcs. A welded joint is then formed at each end of these longitudinal angles between the edge of the horizontal flange and the edge of the vertical ilange thereof, as shown especially in Fig. 4 at 13 to provide rounded corners for the -ends of the longitudinal angle members and the platform as a safety measure. In other words, the ends of the angle members 11-11 are cut or slit at the juncture between lthe horizontal and the vertical flanges o^r webs Iand the horizontal web is cut to correspond withfthe edges of the last plank 10 having the form of ararc of' a circle and a straight portion as shown in Fig. 4. The projecting portions of the vertical flange or web left by this severing are then bent around the corners of the planks 1'0 so that theirl edges are in juxtaposition to the-,edges of their associated horizontal flanges or webs and a welded seam is then prmed between these edges as illustrated in The transverse angle members 12-12 are likewise severed at the juncture between the horizontal and vertical webs for a short distance from their ends, the horizontal web is cut on the arc of a circle tov correspond with the curve of the last plank 10 or that indicated at 13`of the angle membersv 11-11 and portions of the vertical web of the transverse angle members 12--12 equal substantlall to the removed portions of the angle mem ers 11-11 are removed, thereby presenting in abutting relation the ends of the bent portions or the ends of the vertical' web of the angle members 11-11 'and the ends of the vertical web of the angle members 12--12. As shown in Fig. 4 the vertical flanges or webs of angle members 12-12 are thus rabbeted to provide a flush or even enga ement between the associated surfaces. l lelded seams are made in each corner of the platform between edges of the horizontal web of the transverse angle members 12-12 and the edges of the vertical webs 13 of the longitudinal angle members 11-11 and between the edges of the vertical webs of the transverse angle members 12-12 and the end edges of the webs 13 as shown at14 (Fig. 5). Thus, the longitudinal and relatively inverted transverse end angle members so welded in round corners provide a fixed and permanent frame for embracing the ends and sides of the planks 10, the round corners serving to protect against injury while the platform is conveyed, and theinverted transverse end angle members 12 operating to protect the planks 10 against knocks or jams while the lift truck is run underneath either end of the platform. The end boards or planks 10 must, of course, be severed or rabbeted at their lower outer edges in order to be inserted between the longitudinal angle members 11--11 and the inverted end angle members 12-12, but it will be notedthat these angle members provide a unique construction for the planks 10 are inserted between the horizontal flanges or webs of the ano'le members 11-11 and 12-12.

pair of longitudinal runners or supporting angle members 15 with their lower outer corners cut off or severed for the purpose of safety retain the boards 10 within the aforedescribed framework consistino` of the longitudinal and transverse end angle members 11-11 and 12-12, respectively, by being clamped thereto preferably by means of bolts 16 which 'extend through the planks and into said framework, and underneath the horizontal flanges of the longitudinal runners 15 legs 17 are secured by means of the bolts 16 .to support the platform above the floor. The legs 17 have tubular sockets or receptacles 18 secured thereto, preferably by welding, which cooperate with corresponding apertures 19 extending through the platform framework and floor for receiving stakes or pegs (not shown) to retain articles carried by the platform. Thus, the legs 17 elevate the platform while the runners 15 with their severed end corners and the framework provided by the longitudinal angle "members 11-11 and the transverse end angle members 12-12 affording the unitary rounded corner structure for retaining the floor serve to operate as a ri d and safe structure for forming the plat orm.

It is, therefore, apparent from the fore oing` description that the invention provi es a'rigidly and safely constructed portable skid which is capable of undergoing severe usage and overcomes as far as possible danger from` injury while it is being conveyed.

It will, of course, be understood that the invention is not tobe limited by the specific embodiment herein described and illustrat-` metallic members for securing the lateraly edges of the floor and having end ortions severed and bent into the shape o arcs to provide rounded corners for the platform, and a pair of metallic members for securin the end edges of the floor and having en portions severed and rounded for engaging the ends of the lateral edge securing metallic `members.

3. In a portable platform, a floor, a pair of metallic members for securing the lateral edgesof the floor and having end ortions sevegl in the shape of arcs and ot er end porti/oils conforming to and welded to the arc- 'shapek portions to provide rounded corners for t@ platform, and a pair of metallic members rfor securing the end edges of the fiooring and having end portions rounded for engaging the rounded end portions of the lateral metallic members and other end portions rabbeted to provide flush connections therewith. p v

4. In a portable platform, a ioor, a pair of angle members for securin the upper lateral edges of the floor and avin their anges turned inwardly and downwar y, res ectively, the ends of the inwardly turned anges being severed to form arcs where the inwardl turned flanges join the downwardly turned anges, the ends of the downwardly turned flanges thereof beinv bent inwardly and welded to said arc shapeld portions of the inwardly turned flanges to provide rounded corners for the platform, and a pair of angle members for securing the lower end edges of the loorin having their fiangesv turned inwardly an upwardly, respectively, the upwardly turned ianges being rabbeted at thelr ends to provide iiush engagement with the aforementioned inwardly bent end portions of the downwardly turned flanges of the lateral angle members, and said inwardl turned flanges of the lower end edge securing angle members having their outer end corners severed round to engage the aforementioned rounded corners provided by said lateral edge securing angle members.

5. In a portable platform, a floor, a pair of longitudinal metallic angle bars having one arm thereof extending over the upper surface of the floor at the lateral edges thereof for securing the same, and a pair of transverse metallic angle bars having one arm thereof extending under the lower surface of the floor at the ends thereof for protecting the same, the ends of the longitudinal and transverse angle bars at each corner of the platform being notched and formed for meshing relation and to provide rounded corners for the platform.

In witness whereof, we hereunto subscribe our names this 21st day of December A. D.,

ARTHUR A. BUREAU. EARL r. BURK. 

